Founded as an agricultural center in Dutch New Netherland by Frederick Philipse. Philipse switched allegiance to England when the British evicted the Dutch, but his heirs were less astute in their political affiliations: 3rd generation Philipses continued allegiance to England during the American Revolution and were forced to forfeit their vast land holdings. After the war, the small hamlet around the Philipse's mill was renamed Beekmantown after a prominent patriot family. By 1874 the hamlet had grown into a village and incorporated as North Tarrytown. In 1996 residents of the village voted to change its name from North Tarrytown to Sleepy Hollow to distinguish it from the adjacent village of Tarrytown. The name Sleepy Hollow is also used to represent part of it's rich history involving Washington Irving's famous story "The Legend of Sleepy Hollow". Hollow shares a zip code and a school system with Tarrytown, but the two villages are separate municipalities. Sleepy Hollow Chamber of Commerce provides tourist information and descriptions of seasonal events on its web site and in its storefront window: 1 Neperan Rd, Tarrytown, +1 914 631-1705, [2].

Washington Irving's short story "The Legend of Sleepy Hollow" is set here and in Tarrytown. In the story, "Sleepy Hollow" is the valley of the Pocantico River, now largely occupied by Sleepy Hollow Cemetery and Rockefeller State Park Preserve.

Stewart International Airport, 1180 First St, New Windsor, +1 845 564-2100, [4]. Another alternative to the congestion of the 3 major airports, but at present offers few direct flights.

Newark Liberty International Airport, Newark, New Jersey, [5], John F. Kennedy International Airport[6], and LaGuardia Airport[7]: The three major international airports in the New York City area offer service to just about anywhere. Westchester-based taxi and livery cars offer regular service to and from the three internationals from most areas of the county. New York City yellow cabs will take to you Westchester in a pinch, but the fares can be exorbitant. Ask if your hotel offers shuttle service.

Sleepy Hollow is easily accessible from the northeastern United States and southeastern Canada via interstate highways such as the New England and New Jersey Turnpikes (I-95) and the New York State Thruway system [8]. The I-87 portion of the Thruway connecting Albany and New York City crosses the Hudson River in adjacent Tarrytown on the Tappan Zee bridge as does I-287, which connects with I-95 to the east. The Saw Mill River Parkway, which runs along the village's eastern flank, connects with the Taconic State Parkway to the north (to Albany and the I-90 east-west portion of the Thruway system) and the Henry Hudson Parkway into New York City. Route 9 connects Sleepy Hollow to the major highways in Tarrytown.

Metro-North Railroad - Hudson line, [9]. Downtown Sleepy Hollow is just about equidistant from the Tarrytown and Philipse Manor (Sleepy Hollow) stations. Express service between Tarrytown station and New York City's Grand Central Terminal is about 35 minutes, about 39 minutes to Philipse Manor station. Local rail service is available between other Metro-North commuter stations. Taxis swarm the Tarrytown station at the arrival of nearly every train, but Philipse Manor does not get the same attention. On all Metro-North trains on-board fares are subject to a stiff surcharge, so buy your tickets at the station or at the vending machines located on the southbound (to New York) platform at the Tarrrytown station. Metro-North's "One-Day Getaways" discount package is available to Kykuit [10], the Rockefeller estate. Zipcar [11] has a rental car at Tarrytown station into Spring 2008, after which Enterprise [12] will have the franchise for Metro-North stations.

Amtrak, [13]. Long distance connections are available in New York City's Penn Station and at Metro-North's Croton-Harmon station. Amtrak connections available to VIA Rail Canada [14].

Bee Line System, [15]. Westchester County's bus service provides access to White Plains and other locations in the county. Schedules and route maps are available on-line and at the Tarrytown and Philipse Manor (Sleepy Hollow) train stations.

If arriving by train from New York City and planning only a day trip within the central business district, you can get about on foot or by local taxi. If you stay in local hotels or motels, a car becomes something of a necessity. Broadway (aka Route 9) is the main north to south route through the village. There is also the #13 bus route along Broadway. [16] The town is relatively small, so most residents and tourists enjoy traveling on foot, especially in the warmer seasons. There are lots of parks to walk and cut through, as well as a long river walk along the Hudson River that leads to the Sleepy Hollow - Tarrytown Lighthouse [http://www.visitsleepyhollow.com/historic-sites/sleepy-hollow-lighthouse.

The main attraction is Sleepy Hollow's association with Washington Irving's short story "The Legend of Sleepy Hollow", so visit the old churchyard where the Headless Horseman purportedly rests. If you look hard you might find the headstone of Catriena Ecker Van Tessel whose anglicized name, Katrina Van Tassel, appears in Irving's story.

Old Dutch Church and Burying Ground, 430 N Broadway, [17]. The church has been in continuous use since around 1690, except for a few years during the American Revolution. Free guided tours of the burying ground from Memorial Day Weekend through the end of October, Sundays at 2PM. Self-guided tour book Tales of the Old Dutch Burying Ground[18] is sold at the Philipsburg Manor museum shop. This is the spot where Ichabod Crane sought sanctuary from the Headless Horseman. If you happen to be here after dark, keep in mind that "...the Headless Horseman... it was said, tethered his horse nightly among the graves in the churchyard." Park inside adjacent Sleepy Hollow Cemetery.

Sleepy Hollow Cemetery

Pay a visit to Washington Irving, Andrew Carnegie, Walter Chrysler, William Rockefeller, and Elizabeth Arden in their final abodes in Sleepy Hollow Cemetery, 540 N Broadway, +1 914 631-0081, [19]. The style of architecture ranges from Victorian rural at the cemetery's south end to grand neo-classical mausoleums at the north end. Free maps are available in literature boxes at the cemetery office and at the the cemetery's south gate. Gates open M-F 8AM-4:30PM, Sa-Su 8:30AM-4:30PM.

Philipsburg Manor Upper Mills, 381 N Broadway, +1 914 631-3992, [20]. Historic Dutch manor and mill restored to its appearance in the late 17th/early 18th century. In "The Legend of Sleepy Hollow", Ichabod Crane saunters beside the manor's millpond with the "country damsels" of the neighborhood. April 1 to October 28 daily (closed Tu) 10AM-5PM, last tour at 4PM. October 29 to December 31 daily (closed Tu) 10AM-4PM, last tour at 3PM. March weekends only 10AM-4PM last tour at 3PM. Adults $10, senior (62 +) $9, children (5-17) $6. This is also the departure point for tours of Kykuit.

Visit the Rockefeller estate Guided tours of the main house, Kykuit [21], and its gardens and art galleries, are available through Historic Hudson Valley. Open mid May through the beginning of November, weekdays 10AM-3PM, weekends 10AM-4PM. Closed Tu. adults $22, seniors $20, children under 17 $19 (no children under age 10). All Kykuit tours depart from Philipsburg Manor, 381 N Broadway.

Hudson River walk, where you can walk along the river and get an impressive view of the Hudson River and the Tappan Zee Bridge.
The Kingsland Point Park, which leads to historic 1883 Lighthouse at Sleepy Hollow.
Croton Aqueduct Trailway will take hikers right past the Old Dutch Church and cemetery, where gravestones date back to the 1600s and carry the names of some of the area's earliest Dutch settlers and some famous residents of Sleepy Hollow, such as Washington Irving and John Rockefeller.

Union Church of Pocantico Hills, 555 Bedford Rd, +1 914 631-8200 (tour info), +1 914 631-2069 (info on services), [22]. Open April to December, weekdays 11AM-5PM, Sa 10AM-5PM, Su 2PM-5PM, closed Tu. The stained glass windows by Henri Matisse and Marc Chagall were commissioned by members of the Rockefeller family. The rose window was the last work by Matisse before his death. Self guided and guided tours. Adults and children $5.

Follow Ichabod Crane's route, [24]. Fans of Washington Irving's "The Legend of Sleepy Hollow" can follow the route of Ichabod Crane from the center of adjacent Tarrytown north into Sleepy Hollow. But don't expect to find the "Western Woods" or anything else from the 1999 movie Sleepy Hollow. Tim Burton's production is only loosely based on Irving's story and was filmed largely in Hertfordshire, England. The original bridge [25] is long gone, but there's a rustic bridge inside Sleepy Hollow Cemetery.

Sleepy Hollow Cemetery walking tours, [26]. Day and evening guided tours introduce some of the famous and infamous residents of Sleepy Hollow Cemetery, including Washington Irving, author of "The Legend of Sleepy Hollow," industrialists Andrew Carnegie and William Rockefeller, and others.

Old Croton Aqueduct, [27]. Go hiking or bicycling on the aqueduct's trailway. The original water supply to New York City is now a walking trail that runs from Croton-on-Hudson in the north to Yonkers in the south. Notably, the trail passes through the Lyndhurst estate in the south end of Tarrytown, and very near Washington Irving's Sunnyside. Over the 180 years since it was built, portions have disappeared from the downtown areas of several river towns, including Sleepy Hollow (part of Sleepy Hollow High School is built on top of the aqueduct, forcing a detour behind the school).

Carriage road in Rockefeller State Park.

Hike, horseback ride, fish, or go birding at Rockefeller State Park Preserve [28]. Equestrians can park horse trailers at the park's main entrance (in case you wish to make your own horseback ride through Sleepy Hollow). Trail maps are available at the park visitor center on Route 117, one mile east of Route 9. There is a parking fee at the main entrance, but no fee if you enter trails from Old Sleepy Hollow Road (see online map) or the Rockwood Hall portion of the park located west of Route 9. The park includes portions of the valley of the Pocantico River, which is what Irving dubbed Sleepy Hollow in his famous tale.

The weekends prior to Halloween are filled with events [30] that tie in to "The Legend of Sleepy Hollow". If possible, make advanced reservations as most events fill quickly. Adjacent Tarrytown, setting for portions of the the legend, is also home to numerous October events. To avoid disappointment, call in advance to confirm dates and times. Most events require reservations or advance tickets.

Reading of The Legend of Sleepy Hollow at the Old Dutch Church [32]. There's no better place to hear the story than in the very churchyard it made famous. Reserve tickets through The Reformed Church of Tarrytown, +1 914 631-4497.

Tours of the Old Dutch Burying Ground[34], Free tours of the church on Saturdays and Sundays, June through October. The church and its 2-acre burying ground appear in Washington Irving’s The Legend of Sleepy HollowHudson River WalkHudson River Walk

Castle Hotel and Spa, 400 Benedict Ave, +1 800 616-4487, [43]. If you have an ample wallet or a generous expense account the views are spectacular and the food at Equus, the restaurant on premises, is magnificent. Almost a destination in itself. Thann Spa